book review | December with Dracula 10 | A Coldness in the Blood by Fred Saberhagen | Dracula 10

Author: Fred Saberhagen
Title: A Coldness in the Blood
Series: Dracula 10
Genre: Horror Literature; Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

And so, Dracember ends. As does Dracula series by Fred Saberhagen, with the final book called “A Coldness in the Blood“. Towards the end it really picked up, even got an entire point up.

About the Book: Dark side of alchemy is overseen by those who only care for power it can provide. One such student of the craft ends up running to Dracula himself, in absolute terror of the thing chasing him. Figuring, if anyone can defend his sorry ass, it will be someone called The Impaler, he doesn’t stop to think of the wrath he’ll evoke in Vlad Dracula when the horror following will endanger him, his home, and those he considers family. An embodiment of Alchemy, Egyptian God in search of Philosopher’s Stone. One Vlad will now have to chase down too, trying to outwit and outrun an entire damn deity…

My Opinion: Book starts with a great premise, but absolutely horrible execution. Dracula lacks any personality, character traits, keeps comparing incomparable things, and seems to oversee the hypocrisy of his own words. I’m not sure if this was intended so by the author, creating an undead, who so far seemed to be trying to create an intelligent and regal character instead. As the tale went on, it got so dull it was near unbearable, as everyone again spent all their time talking while sitting down, telling tales of tales. And only towards the end did it pick up again, where we got both a good story, well paced, intriguing, and some, minimal, character development too, where we witnessed Vlad Dracula become more the vampire he was in the very first book. Writing got better too, almost like author has found his pens again, caught the train of thought at last, and said all he wanted to say, finally. I’m just not sure about those awfully picked archaic words.

All in all, series aren’t much. No regrets in reading them, not at all, but I won’t be in a hurry to add physical copies to my Dracula’s collection. This one gets a 3 out of 5.

December with Dracula | Summary

Horrible year. Again. Russia invaded Ukraine. Myanmar is going through a violent military coup. Women of Iran are still fighting for their right to live. Transphobes, emboldened by rich brainless humans, are becoming ever more violent too. And that’s just the very tip of the shitberg. There’s much more happening, many more countries in need of help, many more protests going unseen, many more threats.

As a result of it all I’ve had little time or will to search for Dracula books. Upsetting, because it’s this vampire that taught me the value of life. How important it is to fight for survival. How essential it is to cling to life. How one must always move forwards, even if means crawling, or standing still, trying to outwait the darkest times, the darkest thoughts. Instead I was pulled to read other tales of horror, made worse by books being historical. Books on Ukraine. On Holodomor. Iron Curtain. Red Army, Communism. Totalitarianism. Russians slaying their Tsars. Russia. Chechnya. Georgia. Syria. Putin. Brain’s full of nightmares, I can’t believe someone would willfully repeat any of it. But due to this it is even more important to keep moving forwards. Soulless, heartless, and, honestly, brainless bullies are not to be allowed an easy victory by us stepping back, away. So, we keep going. You, I, us all, together. We’re stronger in numbers, so, be sure, your beating heart matters too.

Think you’ll not be upset with me if I’ll add another Dracula book I’ve read earlier this year, as it’s worth mentioning. But as I’ve got it for a review request – couldn’t have kept it all the way to Dracember.

First Dracula book I’ve read this year: I, Dracula by D.S. Crowe:
Author gave me this book in exchange for a review. Through entire process she’d check in on how the reading is going, how I like the book, and even how I’m doing. A heartwarming person. The book itself is good too, got better towards the end, so it’s worth reading through bits that might not be too savory. Will definitely read the sequel too.

Two finished series: Fred Saberhagen and, technically, John G. Hartness:
Started Fred Saberhagen series last year, with my absolute favorite – The Dracula Tape. Finished it this year (last review tomorrow), happily too. As, sadly, they gradually got way worse. Poorly aged flaws began poking through, starting from too common comparison of distress to feelings of violation, rape. Ending with backwards views on theft and infidelity. Dull secondary characters made books a chore, and Dracula, for how old he is, offered no more than ever duller monologues, retelling tales, and no personality.
Meantime John G. Hartness, four year omnibus series are technically not the end of Harker’s adventures, the newer ones are simply not put together yet, it seems. Those too went a bit downwards towards the end, but reading Dracula’s lines was always a pleasure.

The three “others“: Children of the Night by Dan Simmons, Draculas by Blake Crouch, and, again, I, Dracula by D.S. Crowe:
These three are stand alone books at least in the sense that no others surrounding them need to be read. Dan Simmons was a discovery, from a series of similarly themed books that are unrelated, this one tells a fine tale of Dracula’s family, and Dracula himself in the modern times. While not everything was palpable, it ended good and in that way I appreciate having read it.
Draculas by Blake Crouch is that classic shoot-catch thriller with spreading zombie/vampire virus, and brand of humor only found in parodies of such movies. Laughed out loud, and was on the edge of my seat most of the time. The only “cherry” missing was the two matcho dudes who found so much in common towards the end – hooking up. That would’ve pushed the book to the top lists for me.
I, Dracula by D.S. Crowe I already spoke of, so, yeah.

The Best Dracula of 2022: Despite it all, I must give the title to John G. Hartness. His Dracula is well adjusted to life in modern times, and prepared to continue adjusting, no matter what the world throws at him. He’s witty, strange, and retains both the “old vampire villain” charm, and the “medieval warlord” roughness.

The Worst Dracula of 2022: This, with great regret, goes to Fred Saberhagen, whose Dracula I would’ve loved to love. Tales from before and after Bram Stoker, adventures, life. And yet, lacking of personality, seemingly stuck up and dull, him and the side characters made some of the books entirely a chore.

Discovery of 2022: D.S. Crowe. The book might not be the best out there. It starts from birth, childhood, teenhood, and so on, until it reaches the good and interesting bits. But author truly did her work to make this an interesting book with a well arched plot.

Such was my December with Dracula. Not too bad, considering what’s going on. And due to that, I’ll not wish for anything just now, let’s not borrow time, and, instead, walk in slowly. Look around. And stick together, until the next year.

book review | December with Dracula 9 | A Sharpness on the Neck by Fred Saberhagen | Dracula 9

Author: Fred Saberhagen
Title: A Sharpness on the Neck
Series: Dracula 9
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Dracula
Pages: 352
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

Ugh. Finished “A Sharpness on the Neck” by Fred Saberhagen, ninth, and almost the last book in author’s Dracula or Dracula Tape series. While I absolutely love authors writing more about Dracula’s life before and after Bram Stoker, these are not for me.

About the Book: Radciffe family have earned the wrath of an old and powerful vampire, Dracula himself, just… not THAT one, as Vlad Dracula keeps trying to prove them, having kidnapped the family to save them from his brother Radu Dracula. But the will to protect people is not enough when they don’t understand your actions, their importance, or even reasons behind them. And to attempt and explain them, well, who would believe in vampires, right?

My Opinion: Current Radcliffe family puts themselves in danger via this long and dull back-and-forth of “we’re vampires – there’s no such thing as vampires“. Much like late Anne Rice’s works, this here is a tale of a tale, where people sit down just to hear a tale from long ago, with all it’s sleep-inducing nuances, notes from long ago, additional notes made now, and notes in retrospect of things currently. It’s classically okay, but just not good. The writing is poor, the tale itself is poorer, side characters are of no more importance than furniture, and the main-sides, aka Radcliffes, lack any characteristics to make them real people, or notable characters. With all the emphasis on brotherly rivalry, it was more a mockery that we were expected to admire.

Can’t give this more than 2 out of 5.

book review | December with Dracula 8 | Salvation: Quest for Glory by John G. Hartness | Year Four 13-16

Author: John G. Hartness
Title: Salvation: Quest for Glory
Series: Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter 13-16
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Dracula
Pages: 463
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Last book in the Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter omnibus series that I owned, and read. But Salvation: Quest for Glory by John G. Hartness, is apparently not the last book on Quincy, so likely I’ll get to return to my favorite spawn of Dracula eventually.

About the Book: Harker and his friends found a way to get Glory her divinity back, but it sadly means a lot of very bad things happening first. Such as going to hell. Literally. Where Quincy Harker is very well known. But not very well liked, due to the absolute hordes of demons he’s banished from their playgrounds on earth over the long years he has been alive. The few archangels at his six won’t likely help restore that image either… 

My Opinion: I really like the way author writes. It’s smooth, amusing, witty, gritty, and even when facts of the world change – it’s hard to question it, as it’s just woven into the plot. There’s always adventures, some more unique and interesting than others, but hey, I do love me an action-packed book, and if there’s one thing never lacking with Quincy motherfucking Harker around it’s action. Along with such things as demon bile, or demonic funk. Love the philosophy too, and the use of good old characters in plot twists to throw some things off a little, or propel them a bit farther. All in all, a great tale, with a few weaker points, such as too smooth a road down into the pit for that one final throwdown. 

Will definitely seek out more. This one, meantime, gets a solid 4 out of 5.

Dracember | cookbook: From Dill to Dracula by A.M. Ruggirello – Dracula’s recipe book

Last year I’ve received something lovely: a Dracula’s recipe book by A.M. Ruggirello, called From Dill to Dracula. And while I don’t really like cooking myself, I do enjoy having all those strange and unusual cookbooks. So, this + Dracula = had to have it.

A.M. Ruggirello is a descendant of Romanian migrants. Her growing up in a creativity fostering family is likely what got us this book.

As far as I know this isn’t the only Dracula’s recipe book, but this one’s definitely the newest, and most modern one. Meaning you won’t have to translate neither acts described in it, not products spoken of into a human language. Additionally, recipes will be familiar to all of us here in Eastern, and a little bit to the North, Europe. Call it what you want, cabbage rolls are cabbage rolls, delicious. Pan-fried meatballs, cutlets or burgers, can’t go wrong (unless you’re a vegetarian, but there’s always options, and these days – more than ever). And even one of my favorite desserts of all time, salam de biscuiti – chocolate salami roll, that we call a Sloth (tinginys) out here. When my book file refused to come through, author did: we spoke a little, I told her of our Sloth, and she kindly asked to let her know how I like the Dracula’s version of it. Yes, I’m still keeping a note on that.

There’s lots of history, mythology, and beautiful pictures all over the book. I’m really glad to have it. And while I really can’t share Dracula’s salam de biscuiti recipe with you, I can share our Lithuanian one that is a little bit different, but the essence remains.

(this is about 6 to 8 pieces, so if you don’t want to have dessert in the freezer – half of everything)

400 grams of condensed (sweetened evaporated) milk
300 grams of sweet biscuits or plain cookies (without stuff in them or on them)
250 grams of unsalted butter
2 spoons of cocoa powder 

Put condensed milk into a sauce pan or other non-stick pan you got, and on a very low heat – stir until it starts getting blonde-to-caramel color. Take it off the heat, and mix in either grated or finely chopped up butter, then the two spoons of cocoa. Mix well until mass is uniform. Then, into a bowl where you broke (into small chunks) up the cookies / biscuits, pour the mass and mix again. Once it’s no longer too hot to handle by hand, put it in a preferred container, Tupperware or even just a sheet of baking paper, and put in the fridge to solidify until you can cut it into chunks with a knife, ideally overnight. If not using a solid container: the reason it’s called “salami” is because we tend to roll it, so it looks like a giant chocolate sausage.

This is the dessert I’ll be attempting to make for December 25th, just the Dracula version.

book review | December with Dracula 7 | Damnation: Quest for Glory by John G. Hartness | Year Three 9-12

Author: John G. Hartness
Title: Damnation: Quest for Glory
Series: Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter 9-12
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Dracula
Pages: 466
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Read Damnation: Quest for Glory by John G. Hartness, third book in Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter omnibus series. Sadly this one had too many side characters as mains for my liking.

About the Book: Glory, Quincy’s guardian angel, gave up her divinity, her wings, to help him save the world. In return this gang of unlikely heroes set off on an adventure to help her restore it, and learned some shit they would have rather not known, like, ever. To solve this extreme little problem they might just need God himself. And that means – they need to find the big bad angels of the top tier first.

My Opinion: Don’t get me wrong, still a great book(s). Characters are very well written, their stories absolutely essential, I just didn’t like them, personally, as much as I learned to enjoy Harker’s brand of humor. Plot was superb tho, very fun, made sense, offered new, and unique adventures, and perspectives. All in all, another fine book, just lacking in Quincy Harker, and his Uncle Luke (Dracula) as a direct consequence.

Good. A 4 out of 5. Personal preferences aside, and all that.

Dracember | Dracula books, the before, the during, and the after

In my attempts to sort out Dracula books I realized there’s those few who could be read as one sequence around the Bram Stoker’s book, and provide the reader with the most of it: Dracula, his background as a vampire, vampirism, author of Dracula, and how it all could have continued since.

While these books are not of the same author, they, one way or another, encircle the events of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the before, and the after. Figured you might be interested in that, so here goes. Chronological sequence of Dracula, the before, the during, and the later:

I, Dracula by D.S. Crowe – Read this book quite recently. It’s a unique piece, because it follow the historically accurate Dracula’s life, but making his character supernatural pretty much day one. It’s well woven together, and worth the read for sure:

About the Book: Vlad Dracula, the Impaler prince of the Darkness, is in a hurry to write his life down. From the sad and lonely childhood. Then teenage years spent in Ottoman captivity, where he fully explored his supernatural powers. To adulthood, its stubborn will to fight for freedom, for what’s right. And the disappointment that followed, disheartening understanding that he became all this, for all that, and still couldn’t save those who didn’t care to save themselves. Thus, prince has turned away from life and the living, and turned to science that knocked on his door, in search for answers, truths. Having discovered them, he wrote for seven nights straight, rushing to put it all into pages…

Something in the Blood by David J. Skal – Biography of Dracula’s author, Bram Stoker. He had a very strange life, with very strange changes to his health that imply a possible inspiration to the cult book he wrote later down in life:

About the Book: David J. Skal attempts to tell us about Bram Stoker’s life, his bed-ridden childhood and an illness of seven years that mysteriously went away. Of his a tad odd family, his work in literature and theater. How vampire Count Dracula came to be, and what he became, evolving through the years, outliving the author himself.

Dracul by Dacre Stoker – A fictional Bram Stoker’s biography, and a prequel to Dracula’s book. Very interesting, despite the fact that I don’t quite like Dacre Stoker’s writing style:

About: The book, at least at the start of it, is a loosely biographical on Bram Stoker. He was a very sickly child, bedridden. At age seven he almost died of fever, saved in a wicked dream by their mysterious nanna Ellen Crone. After he woke up, strong, and even able to get up, all healed and cured, everyone denied any help from Ellen, and claimed he was cured by his uncle and his leeches. Only his sister Matilda believed him. To add to the mystery, nanny herself packed up and disappeared without a word or anyone noticing, leaving kids on a wild investigation full of nightmares and more questions than answers, up until they had to abandon the cold trail. Nanna Ellen was gone for good. But only a few decades later Matilda spotted her in the streets of France, not aged a day, and the nightmares began again.

Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker – The first chapter of the Dracula’s book that author took out. It was released with his widow’s blessing after his death, in a collection of stories. Reads like some kind of fever dream, but a must nonetheless:

Dracula by Bram Stoker – And, finally, Dracula. A strange book, put together from various diaries, chronologically. Not the easiest read, but it’s why we’re all here anyway. And while below I provide a snippet from the original review I made way back when, today I’d say… It’s a tale of a bunch of weird dudes who think they know best, who start obsessing over this foreigner. And yes, this said foreigner might have eaten a person, and bitten a woman or two who were related to them, but, come on, Lucy died from the damn blood transfusions of which one wasn’t even human blood, not of his bite!

Powers of Darkness by Bram Stoker and Vladimir Asamundsson – Alternative Dracula. Based on a very early adaptation of Dracula it was meant to be the basis for a shortened Icelandinc version. The book is strangely different, with added or changed plot, and characters, and, in my opinion, should be read, and should be read after the original:

About: The book is not ground-breakingly different. The essence is exactly the same. Except that here, after a very, very long debate by translators and whoever else at the start, we get different proportions, and slightly differently toned characters. For instance, while we had a fairly short visit at Dracula’s castle, or at least a short description, for it wasn’t all that short for Harker, and then a longer story of the hunt for Dracula in England, here we got the opposite. Most of the book is purely Harker roaming about Dracula’s castle, realizing he’s a prisoner, and that he really, really likes Dracula’s niece. The rest of the book is told very quickly, in meager little chapters, and not in the already familiar diary form. As for differences in characters, Dracula is a bit more blunt, and fairly more sexual being, not at all timid with his words or compliments. Others got some alterations too, but due to lack of interaction with them, since there virtually was no continuation after Harker fled the castle, I’ve nothing to tell other than what translators at the beginning told.

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James – Dracula from Mina’s perspective, her true side of the story. While it isn’t the only one like this, I feel like either one is skippable if you don’t want to read Dracula romance. But if you do, well then, this is a tale of things Mina had to hide of a man who wasn’t exactly the monster men around her painted him to be:

It’s the same tale of Bram Stoker, yet told from Mina’s point of view. And this time she’s not hiding anything. Pure truth about the men around her, about herself, about the so called monster. Charming little romance blooms when love is sparked in the seemingly dry heart of Mina, when she meets the probably most amazing man she could ever meet. 

Dracula’s Child by J.S. Barnes – If you chose to skip the 7^th book, you can skip this one too. Optional, not necessary. It follows the speculation on the original Dracula book, that Harkers child might have been affected by the whole ordeal, and thus somehow have a tie to Dracula himself too:

About the Book: Upon chasing Dracula down and killing him, Mina and Jonathan Harker thought they rid their lives of the evil and can now begin the process of healing. Live their life, raise their son. But upon his death, Dracula swore revenge that’ll reach them across eons… And it seems the darkness is pooling up again.

Dracula the Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker – an official sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, written by Stoker’s descendant. This too follows life of Mina’s and Jonathan’s child, but an adult. It’s a strange one, as there seem to be… Well, Stoker himself is in it:

About: About twenty years after that little band of heroes got terrorized by the truth of vampire existence, Quincey Harker, son of Mina and Jonathan Harkers, against his father’s wishes, but in secret as to not lose his financial support, is pursuing a career as an actor. All is well and good, really. He even gets to meet his hero, his idol, famous actor named Basarab, who fully supports the boy’s want to become an actor, even if his father disapproves. Basarab even promises help, connections. All in return of a small favor Quincey can absolutely provide: introduce him to Bram Stoker. For, you see, Stoker is now building a play called “Dracula”, and Basarab has a few words about it…

Dracula vs. Hitler by Patrick Sheane Duncan – If you liked Hellsing manga / anime / ova, you will probably enjoy this baby here. Van Helsing, having once hunted Dracula down, now has to go and unleash him back onto the world during second World War:

Some years ago he, and a few brave men, captured Dracula, overpowered, and imprisoned him. Not many know he is not really dead thou. And while Van Helsing often thought of coming back to the sarcophagus with the immortal creature within, he always thought it’d be for science sake, for experiments, research. By far he did not expect himself to stand over the prince’s body, prepared to wake him from the possibly eternal slumber, in hopes that Vlad the Impaler will be willing to defend his homeland once again, against a new enemy.

The Dracula Tape by Fred Saberhagen – Modern-ish times. Remember ending of Interview with the Vampire movie or book? What about Lestat’s complains on Louis’s lies? This is pretty much that, but with Dracula, who records his own version of Dracula, accusing the men there of lying, and expressing near mortal offense. It’s a very amusing read:

About the Book: Not all that was told in “Dracula“, given to us through letters, journals, and diaries, has happened the way people there have claimed it to happen. So, Dracula’s here to sling some dirt back, after he has been wrongfully painted as women-stalking monster, and tell his side of the tale.

book review | December with Dracula | Seance for a Vampire by Fred Saberhagen | Dracula 8

Author: Fred Saberhagen
Title: Séance for a Vampire
Series: Dracula 8
Genre: Vampires; Urban Fantasy
Pages: 310
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

I’ve read a few Sherlock Holmes and Dracula crossovers. Séance for a Vampire by Fred Saberhagen, eight book in his Dracula series, might just be the best of that specific kind. Yet that doesn’t say much…

About the Book: Distraught parents become easy pray to charlatan mediums who claim to be able to speak to the dead, including their daughter. Sherlock Holmes and his loyal partner dr. Watson come for a séance too, fully expecting to expose the frauds. Instead, what they witness makes them turn for help even farther down the Holmes family tree. They must reach out to prince Dracula himself…

My Opinion: An unbearably slow story full of completely useless text that wasn’t worth much even as page filler, with ideas that author himself has dropped and likely forgot they were even there. Plot holes so grave I’ve reread some chapters, thinking I missed something, surely, but no, I haven’t. An apparent attempt to imitate Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I could be wrong about this, it just felt that way. So, in total: slow, difficult to follow and/or understand, and additionally made unnecessarily complex. The only true positive of this story is that looking from afar – the idea is pretty good.

If you truly like Sherlock tales, might be worth reading this one. I’m not that big of a fan. A firm 2 out of 5.

book review | December with Dracula 5 | The Cambion Cycle by John G. Hartness | Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter 5-8

Author: John G. Hartness
Title: The Cambion Cycle
Series: Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter 5-8
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Vampires
Pages: 394
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I couldn’t resist. Instantly grabbed The Cambion Cycle: Year Two by John G. Hartness, second book in Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter series. Other series will just have to wait. And no, I regret nothing either.

About the Book: Someone is hunting down people with supernatural blood in their veins, specifically those whose one parent was either an angel, or a demon. They brutally kill them, and leave Harker a message. A message out of blood, guts, and remnants of soul. And, worst of all is that Harker has already seen all this before. Back then having stopped it through sheer luck…

My Opinion: Author has a great, smooth writing style where between high-strung action there’s moments of respite and planning. Characters don’t loiter about, taking more time talking than doing things. Everything’s in very, very good balance, I just can’t stress that enough. Additionally I noticed there’s these… Little repeated things, sentences, jokes. Not repeated per page, but from another book, another story told before. This created a lovely little dynamic, where it almost feels like the reader and the author have inside jokes now. Again, takes balance to get there. Lots of humor, unbelievably colorful epithets and insults, well written action and protagonists. The only thing I had a small issue with were side characters who were not so small as to warrant such template-writing.

A firm 4 out of 5. And how do I resist taking third one right now…

book review | December with Dracula 4 | Quincy Harker: Year One by John G. Hartness | Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter 1-4

Author: John G. Hartness
Title: Quincy Harker: Year One
Series: Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter 1-4
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Vampires
Pages: 384
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter series, written by John G. Hartness, is best read in these omnibuses. Then you’ll be absolutely certain you’re reading them in appropriate, chronological order. Don’t ask why I mention this now, now that I’ve read Quincy Harker: Year One, a 1-4 books omnibus.

About the Book: Quincy’s parents were Mina and Jonathan Harkers who, one way or another, were affected by Vlad Dracula himself. This means that Quincy, while not a vampire, now lives in the age of cell phones and security cameras, and calls Dracula his uncle. He works as a demon hunter, one way or another banishing the things that go bump in the night, bumping them back, as he puts it. But whether it’s because being an anomaly that he is – he attracted attention of said beings, or because they just pissed him off – remains unknown. After all, living this long means he saw the worst humanity has to dish out. And the darkness those acts pull into the world.

In this book Quincy starts officially working with officially nonexistent paranormal activity division. And while at first that sounds like great fun – finally someone to clean the records, the blood, and the bodies – it turns out they’re lacking in the supernatural department. So there he is, as before, against a few of Apocalypse Horsemen, Death itself, Hell’s Lieutenants, and all kinds of other crap. Must be Tuesday.

My Opinion: Great humor, colorful epithets and unmatched vocabulary, incredible fights with creatures from the depths of hell, whose sharp tongues are only matched by their damned swords, Vlad the Impaler himself going medieval or, worse, getting all parental, a guardian angel who can barely keep up with this bad influence of a protagonist, and many other absolutely glorious things. Well written, easy to absorb, and even easier to read. The only minus is that some prominent characters follow a very clear pattern that makes their acts, events around them, answers, and dialogues – overly predictable. Occasional curveball would’ve made this beyond perfect.

A very fine read, solid 4 out of 5.